WEEK-3: Computer Controlled Cutting

ASSIGNMENT

To characterize the Laser Cutter's focus, power, speed, rate, kerf and joint clearance- (For Cut and Engrave)

Material used:

  1. 3mm Acrylic Sheet
  2. 3.5mm wood.

Procudure undertaken:-

3mm Acrylic Sheet:-

For Cut:-
A simple design of 1.9 cm circle was made in Corel Draw and the same was sent for the print in the Laser Cutter using different paramenters. The parameters used for cutting the 3.5 mm Acrylic Sheet with different parameters was as under:-
1
 Speed (in %)
50
30
15
10
2
 Power(in %)
80
90
90
100
3
 Frequency(in %)
100
100
100
100
Results
A simple cut was observed but the design was intact in the Acrylic.
Cut was a little bit deeper but the design did not extract from the wooden ply. Some dark spots were visible on the Acrylic
The cut was extracted from the Acrylic with ease
Through this dimension also the cut was easily removed from the Acrylic

Hence the ideal parameters for the cut in 3mm Acrylic Sheet is as under:-
  1. Speed - 10%
  2. Power - 100%
  3. Frequency- 100%
Kerf of laser cutter for 3mm Acrylic Sheet:-

The design of our circle was with a diameter of 1.9 cm but the material removed from the 3mm Acrylic Sheet was of 1.8 cm. Hence the kerf in this case is 0.1 cm.

The images of the characterization for cut are shown below:



For Engrave:-
Simple alphabets were used to engrave the 3.5 mm acrylic sheet using different combination of parameters. The parameters used were as under:-
Description
Speed(%)
Power(%)
Frequency(%)
Results
Engrave-1
Raster
50
50
50
The letters engraved but with dark around the design
Vector
50
50
50
Engrave-2
Raster
80
100
50
Engraved but the depth of the design less as compared to the 1st case
Vector
20
80
50
Engrave-3
Raster
100
35
0
Clear engraving was done with clear alphabets and proper depth of the engrave.
Vector
15
100
100

The images of the characterization for engrave are shown below: